Leicester Tigers-bound Micke Günter raising the bar at set-piece time for the Springboks Women
The experienced former Bulls Daisies front-row forward recently sealed a deal with the Premiership Women's team and will remain in the UK after the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
'Yeah, I think it's been a dream of mine for a very long time,' she told the media after Bok training at UCT on Monday.
'The Bulls set such a good standard, the first professional side in South Africa, and they took me on and I gained so much experience from them.
'I just have to give them credit for what they're doing for the women's game at the moment.
'But now it's my next chapter, going over to Leicester. I'm excited to see what's in store for me.
'The first thing that comes to mind is the standard at Leicester. It's a really good club to integrate in. They're building at the moment, so I think I'll integrate quite well. Yeah, I think it's just to embrace the cultures and just embrace everything that goes with it.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
23 minutes ago
- The South African
Spirited Springbok Women show promise in agonising defeat to Black Ferns
The Springbok Women impressed with heart and power but suffered a narrow 34–26 defeat to the Black Ferns XV in Cape Town. The Black Ferns XV struck early when Mererangi Paul broke through to score in the second minute at Athlone Stadium on Saturday. South Africa responded with fire, and Anathi Qolo nearly scored before a turnover handed momentum back to the dangerous visitors. Moments later, Babalwa Latsha and Aseza Hele powered forward, gaining metres and setting up strong attacking platforms in the opposition's 22. South Africa's scrum dominance showed as they won a heel against the head and mauled brilliantly to set up Hele's opening try. Jakkie Cilliers converted cleanly, and the Springbok Women took a confident 7–5 lead after ten physical, back-and-forth opening minutes. The Black Ferns XV hit back, capitalising on South African ill-discipline as Vainah Ubisi received a yellow for repeated infringements. Kelsey Teneti finished a slick backline move and moments later intercepted a pass to race in for another unconverted try. Hele once again used the maul to her advantage, dotting down to reduce the deficit to 15–12 in an intense half. Teneti completed her brace before halftime as Eloise Webb's yellow card left South Africa with only 13 defenders on the field. A try-saving obstruction call denied the visitors before halftime, but they still entered the break leading 20–12 after missed conversions. In the second half, Hollyrae Mete-Renata extended the lead following relentless pressure close to the Springbok Women's tryline. Teneti punished a midfield blunder to grab her hat-trick, stretching the margin to 34–12 with twenty minutes remaining. Captain Latsha powered over next, Cilliers added the extras, and South Africa surged back into the game with renewed confidence. After sustained dominance, Catha Jacobs was held up before Nombuyekezo Mdliki finally scored, closing the gap to eight with minutes left. Despite relentless late attacks from stars like Nadine Roos and Hele, South Africa ran out of time to complete the comeback. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Springbok Women run Black Ferns XV close in narrow defeat at Athlone Stadium
Powerful No 8 Aseza Hele scored two tries for the Springbok Women against the Black Ferns XV on Saturday. Image: Henk Kuger/Independent Newspapers The Springbok Women suffered a narrow 34-26 loss against the Blacks Ferns XV in the first of two international friendlies at a windy Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday evening. The half-time score was 20-15. There was a strong early scrum by the Bok Women, who tried to show their power, but the Black Ferns spread the ball wide quickly off their feed and fullback Mererangi Paul scored in the right corner with the Boks short of defensive numbers in the second minute. Lock Anathi Qolo came close to a quick reply for SA, but had no support with the tryline beckoning. The Bok scrum continued to put the squeeze on their opponents and they eventually won a penalty after the 10th minute. Handling errors in broken play proved costly for the South African women, however. In fact, both teams struggled in the blustery conditions. The Bok tight five shoved the Black Ferns off the ball in a scrum and won a penalty in the following passage of play that they put into touch close to the Black Ferns try line. The Springbok Women get their reward 🙌 Cilliers gets the conversion to reduce the margin to eight 🎯 📺 Stream #RSAvNZL on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 26, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading Bok No 8 Aseza Hele charged over the line after the Black Ferns struggled to cope with a rolling maul from the lineout for the Bok Women's first points of the match. Wing Jakkie Cillers added the two points with the conversion and the Bok Women were 7-5 in front A chip and chase by the Black Ferns left the Bok defence at sixes and sevens and Vaina Ubisi was shown yellow for a desperate try-saving tackle from an offside position close to the line after 20 minutes. The Black Ferns spread the ball through the hands to the right wing from the resultant tap penalty and Kelsey Teneti sauntered in for the try. King again missed the conversion attempt. A floated Libbie Janse van Rensburg pass deep in Bok territory was then gobbled up by Black Ferns wing Jaymie Kolose who scored their third try. Hela again responded for the Springbok Women off a rolling maul in the 31st minute to bring the home team within three points at 15-12. Bok Women's coach Swys de Bruin would have been worried by the amount of space on the home side's flanks. When outside centre Eloise Webb was also shown yellow in the 37th minute for an intentional knock-on, they were again punished out wide. Teneti was again the scorer. An obstruction in the build-up denied the visitors another try after the hooter. The Bok Women were also unlucky not to score a try of their own after a number of attacking phases. Trailing at the break, but far from done. A big second half coming from the #BokWomen 🔥#MakeItCount — SA Women's Rugby (@WomenBoks) July 26, 2025 Webb returned from the sin bin. The Bok scrum continued to cause problems for the visitors' pack. But the defensive steel was lacking minutes later when Hollyrae Mete-Renata barged over the line despite the attentions of a number of Bok defenders. Replacement flyhalf Kaea Nepia kicked the first conversion of the match for the Black Ferns. When Teneti pounced on the loose ball to complete her hat-trick moments later, the Bok Women were in deep trouble. The SA forwards continued to provide front-foot ball, however, and skipper Babalwa Latsha drove over for a well-deserved try after sustained Springbok pressure after the 50th minute. Cilliers added the two points. Latsha grew in stature as the Bok Women started to make the hard yards. Fired-up centre Chumisa Qawe was also hitting the line hard. Yet the visitors held firm. The penalty count was mounting in favour of the home side and a yellow for Maama Vaipulu in the 64th minute gave the SA side a potential way back into the match. Bok subsitute Nombuyekezo Mdliki thought she had scored two minutes later after a number of phases of attacking play, but it was ruled out for obstruction in the build-up. They hammered away at the Black Ferns defensive line, with Nadine Roos shifted from fullback to scrumhalf. But handling errors and poor decision making cost the SA side once again with time running out. The Bok Women threw everything at the Black Ferns with less than three minutes to go, and the charging Mdliki would not be denied this time. They continued to press but could not add to the scoreline. Points scorers Springbok Women 26 Tries: Hele (2), Latsha, Mdliki; Conversions: Cilliers (3) Black Ferns XV 34 Tries: Paul, Teneti (3), Kolosi, Mete-Renata; Conversions: Nepia (2)
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Springbok Women taking lessons to heart despite expensive school fees
Springbok Women's captain Babalwa Latsha wants to see an improvement in their game when they take on New Zealand at Athlone Stadium. Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Media The Springbok Women's team would have taken a lot of lessons from the defeats they suffered in the two-Test series against Canada. School fees for those lessons were quite expensive, as the South Africans suffered 50-20 and 33-5 hammerings at the hands of the second-ranked Canadians in Pretoria and Gqeberha respectively. But it was the best eye opener ahead of next month's Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Now, ahead of two matches against New Zealand's Black Ferns XV in Cape Town, it's time to learn from the mistakes and implement the lessons learned. The Bok Women have come a long way over the last 18 months, but the gap between themselves and the top rugby nations is still wide. They are ranked 12th in the world, and are 20 ranking points behind New Zealand, who are currently ranked third in the world. Top-ranked England are 29 points ahead of the Bok Women. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The positive aspect is that the Bok Women are aware of their shortcomings and have embraced the lessons learned. The focus now is to improve with each passing game, and use it every minute to get better and to give themselves a chance to be competitive at the global showpiece event. Forward Babalwa Latsha, who will lead South Africa on Saturday against the New Zealanders at Athlone Stadium (5pm kickoff), says they want to sharpen their arsenal for next month's Rugby World Cup. The experienced prop said they will be keen for more improvements around the breakdown and set piece. 'The Rugby World Cup is just 30 days away and we are using this opportunity to fine tune our game, as we will do again next weekend,' Latsha said. 'We worked hard on areas such as the breakdown in order to improve in that aspect of play and that will be a focus area for us tomorrow again. 'The two matches against Canada provided us with valuable learnings and the next two against this very capable Black Ferns XV will do so again.' The Women Boks have been boosted by the return of star lock Vainah Ubisi, who makes a welcome return from injury to the green and gold, having last played for the Springbok Women in last year's WXV 2 tournament at the same venue. The Bulls Daisies' second-rowwer Ubisi is a dynamic player, with a massive presence at lineout time and a top ball-carrier. She will certainly add some much-needed grunt and skill to the Women Boks' forward effort, especially at set-piece time. Latsha said although their set piece worked well against Canada, they are looking for more improvement on Saturday. 'There is no doubt that the Black Ferns XV will test us, they are a very skilful team with a number of very experienced players in key positions, but to be honest, for us this match will be about ourselves and what we want to achieve,' Latsha added. For Latsha, returning to Athlone Stadium is also a treat. In the last two seasons, the Bok Women played at the Cape Town venue in WXV 2. 'Yes, the stadium has now almost become a home base for us,' she said. 'I think it is fair to say that we have managed to build up a support base out there and I hope and believe that the crowds will come out again this weekend to come and support us. We would love nothing more to feed off the energy from the crowd, so I really hope they come in numbers.'
